Saturday, July 24, 2010

Wastewater Shorebird Report

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Shorebird Survey

Location:     Muskegon Wastewater System
Observation date:     7/23/10
Notes:     84-80 degrees F; WNW 4mph; 50% cloud cover; infiltration basins unmowed and dry except around outlets; in B section 2 covered with standing stagnant water,1 with recently added shallow water; all aerators full but small easternmost holding basin next to center dike had exposed muddy shoreline; that, the north shore of West Lagoon and east end of East Lagoon only mudflat type habitat; spotted sandpipers using rocky banks.
Number of species:     8

Semipalmated Plover -  1 adult
Killdeer -    8
Spotted Sandpiper -      62
Lesser Yellowlegs -   4
Upland Sandpiper -      1    juv - crisply patterned plumage with unworn pale fringes and dark subterminal lines on scaps, coverts.
Sanderling -    1     in winter plumage
Least Sandpiper -    12  1 juv; others adults
Pectoral Sandpiper -      3

American Kestrel juveniles hunting from irrigator in field at east end of East Lagoon; adult seen in same area. Dickcissels singing along White Road; also along Swanson Rd south of Apple.

- Carolyn Weng
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1 comment:

Caleb Putnam said...

Thanks for the post Carolyn, and for all your efforts surveying this site! I predict you'll find something very rare before too much longer.